The Cat in the Hat makes an entrance at First Thursday Reading Night at Unger Memorial Library last week.

The Cat in the Hat makes an entrance at First Thursday Reading Night at Unger Memorial Library last week.

Photo: Gail M. Williams | Plainview Herald

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Lydia Castillo puts expression and emotion into her reading, while the Cat imitates what’s happening in the book. At right is Hannah Smith, Junior Literacy Council member.

Lydia Castillo puts expression and emotion into her reading, while the Cat imitates what’s happening in the book. At right is Hannah Smith, Junior Literacy Council member.

Photo: Gail M. Williams | Plainview Herald

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Children were eager to make contact with the famed feline.

Children were eager to make contact with the famed feline.

Photo: Gail M. Williams | Plainview Herald

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After being banned from the house, the Cat bids a sad farewell to the children.

After being banned from the house, the Cat bids a sad farewell to the children.

Photo: Gail M. Williams | Plainview Herald

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Special guest grabs children’s attention at First Thursday

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Move over Santa Claus! You’ve got competition from a black cat with a tall hat and an umbrella who loves to tear around the house and fascinate children.

The Cat in the Hat put in an appearance at First Thursday Reading Night at Unger Memorial Library and cut capers while Lydia Castillo, director of Hale County Literacy Council, read “The Cat in the Hat” to around 46 children, adults and helpers.

The event was in honor of National Read Across America Day, an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association and held in honor of the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, much better known and loved as Dr. Seuss. Geisel was born March 2, 1904, and died in 1991. This was the 110th anniversary of his birth.

At first, Castillo thought she would construct a homemade costume and read the story herself. But Mary Vasquez offered to play the role of the Cat, and the council decided it was worthwhile to purchase the entire costume.

As Castillo read the story, the Cat acted out parts of it and gradually started moving around the room to shake hands and accept hugs from little ones. Parents and grandparents snapped photos.

A 33-year elementary teacher, Vasquez has been retired for two years. As a second- and third-grade teacher, she frequently dressed in costumes to illustrate stories. Vasquez says the Cat’s appeal to children lies in “The excitement. The unknown. The mischief.”

Castillo remembers reading “The Cat in the Hat” to her daughter. She says kids are fascinated by the Cat, first, because they’ve heard about Dr. Seuss in school, and second, “there’s a lot of rhyming.”

How the book is read plays a role.

“Making reading fun is important,” Castillo said. “I can’t just sit and read. If you bring the character out, if you bring in somebody who can dress up as the character, if you put some motion in it, it gives the children something they can associate with.”

Junior Literacy Council volunteers Candace Vernon and Lauren Aguirre were on hand to help, along with Hannah Smith, a senior at PCA, who read “Miles and Miles of Reptiles,” from The Cat in the Hat series, to the children. The children received a copy of “Miles and Miles of Reptiles,” a Dr. Seuss activity book, a bookmark and an I Love Reading band, plus plastic reptiles that were handed out by the Cat.

Now that they have the costume, the Literacy Council plans to make an annual event of the Cat’s appearance, Castillo said.